Welcome to Downlands College

Welcome back to Term 1. Much of the first few weeks has focused on building community at Downlands. This has involved spending time welcoming new staff, students and families and ensuring all felt the family nature of a Downlands education. Sharing a meal with our new boarding students and families was a major highlight of the new year. Celebrating academic successes with our Year 12 cohort of 2025 was a wonderful evening. It was fantastic to hear of students’ pathways and plans for the future. Congratulations to William Murtagh as Dux of the College (Father George Butler MSC Prize) and Myles Farrington as Runner-Up to the Dux (Kevin Hanley Prize). Our focus on community has continued for parents with engagement nights at the College and through the P&F who have held connection evenings off-site. Daily the relaunch of My Downlands has focussed on providing a clearer and more informative communication experience for parents, this will continue to be refined through feedback and user experience. Week 2 saw three wonderful community events. The Secondary Swimming Carnival, the Junior Swimming Carnival and the Opening Eucharist which incorporated the missioning of the College’s new Chaplain, Father Chung, and the leadership induction and commissioning for Year 12 leaders and students. These three events clearly showed the spirit, family and leadership of students and staff. Father Chung captured how students approached these events perfectly in his homily. “By the end of his journey, the boy realized that to become successful does not mean to gain something important, but to become a loving person. You come to Downlands searching for knowledge. You come hoping for success. You come wanting to build a good future. Education is a not only a gift, it is also about forming your heart, which should be filled with love.”

Downlands Senior Japanese language students create lifelong memories and immerse themselves in culture during an unforgettable 2025 tour. Our Senior Japanese language students have returned from the 2025 Downlands Japan Tour, an excursion that offered deep cultural immersion and a chance to sharpen their language skills. This unique opportunity allowed students to step beyond the classroom and experience the beauty and diversity of Japanese life firsthand. Downlands students, Evy and Ivy, shared their reflections on the trip. "As Senior Japanese students, we feel very privileged to have been a part of the 2025 Downlands Japan Tour," they said. "It was not only an immersive cultural experience, but an opportunity to make connections with both our own peers and the students of Fukuyama High School. Engaging with the daily lives of Japanese students our own age gave us a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will never forget. Their kindness towards us is held close to our hearts." The tour offered a perfect blend of traditional and modern Japan. Students participated in serene tea ceremonies and soaked in the beauty of ancient temples. They also experienced the thrill of Universal Studios and soaked in the energy of bustling Tokyo. Evy and Ivy noted it was "nothing short of phenomenal," giving them a feel for Japan "through both traditional and modern lenses." Beyond the cultural highlights, the tour fostered a strong sense of camaraderie. The trip allowed students across different year levels to form new friendships. Evy and Ivy expressed gratitude for the dedicated Downlands teachers who guided them through Japan's busy streets and train stations, ensuring a safe and connected group. "It could never have been the same without our teachers with us all the way," they shared. "The memories we made travelling across Japan will be memories we have for a lifetime." The 2025 Downlands Japan Tour was an immersive experience that deepened our students’ appreciation for Japanese culture and created lasting bonds. At Downlands College, we are proud to offer enriching opportunities like this that extend learning beyond the classroom. From international tours to co-curricular programs, our students gain real-world insights and personal growth through experiences they’ll cherish for years to come. We are incredibly proud of our students for embracing this opportunity with open hearts and minds. We look forward to seeing how this experience shapes their futures.